Deer – There is quality deer hunting in the Upstate, however as in other parts of the country, most of the trophy bucks are taken on private land.

Bear – You can hunt bears in the Upstate in Game Zone 1, which encompasses the mountains of Pickens, Oconee and Greenville Counties. There is also a coastal bear season that is conducted via a lottery.

Coyotes – Coyotes are in overabundance in the Upstate of South Carolina and the DNR encourages the hunting of this invasive species by offering no closed season on private land and no hunting license required if you shoot a coyote within 100 yards of your home. The South Carolina deer population has dropped by 30% and the DNR largely blames the exploding coyote population.

Turkey – Spring turkey season is one that all turkey hunters look forward to all year. The turkey population in the Upstate is also on the decline largely due to the ever present predators.

Wild Hogs – Hogs were introduced to South Carolina by the Spanish in the 1500s and were traditionally confined to the low country, however the feral hogs have been consistently expanding their range and now inhabit all counties of South Carolina.

Deer Hunting in the Upstate

There are many deer hunting opportunities in the Upstate. Most of the high quality deer are harvested on private land, however there are opportunities on public land for the deer hunter that is willing to do his/her homework.

One of the best public lands for trophy deer is located in the Jocassee Gorge area. Be forewarned that this area is rough terrain. It is all mountains and that rough terrain is what scares other hunters away and allows some bucks to grow past 3 years of age.

These are big woods and mountains and if you are going to hunt this area, you must be prepared.

Carry a large pack and be prepared to spend the night if it becomes necessary. At the very least, you should carry the following in your pack:

You can add to the list as you see fit, but getting caught in the mountains without the basics is not recommended.

If the mountains aren’t your thing, there is plenty of public land in the foothills, but it does see a lot of hunting pressure.

Here are some of our favorites:

Fants Grove WMA – 7000 Acres Bowhunting Only

Keowee WMA – 4000 Acres Bowhunting Only

Keep in mind that these are public hunting areas and hunting pressure will be at a maximum. Look for places where other hunters are unwilling to go and you may find a honey hole.

Small Game Hunting in the Upstate

There is plenty of small game hunting opportunities in the Upstate if you know where to look. Once again, some of the best opportunities are on private land. The people of the Upstate are very friendly folks and if you are respectful and ask nicely, you will be able to gain access to private land.

Another option for hunting upland birds in the Upstate is to hunt on a preserve. This is some great hunting on land that is strictly managed for upland birds. Try River Bend in Spartanburg County. They offer hunts for upland birds and many other amenities.

Hunting is a tradition in this country that is passed down to the next generation and small game hunting is normally where kids get started. I remember my first .22 and spending hours in the woods alone chasing squirrels. They are some of my best memories to this day.